USING REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY IN THE STUDY OF LONG-TERM DYNAMICS OF WATER BODIES IN THE BUFFER ZONE OF VYAZIVOTSKYI LANDSCAPE RESERVE

Research on the long-term dynamics of water bodies in the steppe zone of Ukraine provides essential insights into the structural changes of the hydrological regime of the riparian-water zone. Water bodies within the buffer zone of the Vyazivotskyi Landscape Reserve were investigated using Landsat 8-9 imagery processing spanning from 2013 to 2023 in the month of June. A trend of water surface area reduction by 17 – 20.2% was identified, leading to the transformation of riparian and aquatic ecosystems. Various water indices were employed to detect water bodies. For this purpose, seven water indices were utilized to identify water bodies within the Vyazivotskyi Landscape Reserve. The statistical accuracy assessment of water body detection revealed that the most effective index under our conditions is the AWEI water index. During the analysis of the obtained water masks, it was determined that NDVI, NDWI, MNDWI, WRI, WNDWI, and MIWDR are less effective in detecting small water bodies (with an area up to 5 ha). The acquired data indicate rapid changes in biodiversity and the structure of the Vyazivotskyi Landscape Reserve buffer zone. This research holds significant importance in monitoring nature reserves and detecting hydrological change trends.